Combined professional comb and scale



Dec. 23, 1952 Q CLAPS 2,622,603

COMBINED PROFESSIONAL COMB AND SCALE Filed Aug. 19, 1950 256 fyi 5 l?[so Z 32 iii 4/ IN VEN TOR. CARMINE CL APS Bywawp Patented Dec. 23, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCAL 1 i This invention relates to new anduseful protements in implements 'for bfarbers, Yneurdressersv and thelike; and, more particularly; the aim is to provide a novel and valuableprofessional comb which is so constituted that 'a hairdresser, in usinga pair of scissors or shears, inaydbe guided, while,- cutting'l ortrimming the hair ver a customer, -to insure that the hair will be cutto the intended length.` ,v t, j g- As is well known, the operation ofhaii-cutting or trimming as performed by a barber or hairdresserinvolves, except at the location-s where the hand tool known as yaclipper is applied, the conjoint use of a comb and a pair of scissors orshea-rs; the 'comb for lifting strandsu or a tressef hair into positionfor cutting, and the shears' for effecting the cut. The 'clipper israrely if ever used on a womans head, and onlytat certain minor placeson a mans head, even where aman is willing to permita clipper to be usedat all. The manipulation of comb and shears requires, especially, a highdegree of care andskillj otherwise' differently located clumps of,k hairstrands will be cut to such incorrectly differing lengths that theappearance of the iiairV 'after vaziatte'mpt to cut, trim "or dress itwill beworse than before and perhaps lquite unk'empt and ragged. i Thisinvention will help the hair stylist tov vfolilow the creation of 'anew,hair style. For eirample, to measure thelerigth of the hair desiredat the nape of the neck, above it, the side length and the front of thehead. and by so doing the created or prescribed style will be copiedco1"- rectly by beauticians, or hairdressers. VByline" presentinvention, however, there is 'v vided an implement comprising aprofessional comb combined ni a spcial way with a scale cali-v brated interms of linear nieasurernentlas inches. l*

Since said scale is extended or extensible long tudinallyV of the comb,a comparatively in perienced barber or hairdresser may rea ry manipulatethe comb, relative to a strand of hair, to cause that strand to bedisposedin such position that when tue 'shears is applied tiisrt at thevcustomary distance above the comb teeth said strand will be out toprecisely a desired length. Thislegtm for instance, may be one requestedby the customer. t

While the invention attains its chief utility in a professional comb,that is, one' used by hairL dressers and ordinarily 7"' long, theinvention may be applied to a pocket comb; as one' l5 or 6" long. Such`a' pocket comb, for instance; may well be in the possession of any one;for self use,

3 Claims. (Cl. 132-11) as to facilitate an occasional trimming operationby the aid of an ordinary pair of scissors.

A feature of the invention is that said scale is so carried by the combthat its calibrations by direct readings therefrom give true lengths.

nother feature of the invention is that scale calibrations may becarried by the comb aleng a side thereof, or along opposite sidesthereof, or along the top thereof, or along a side and the con` thereof.l, A, A

A further feature of the invention is that the scale calibrations may beof various ekinds., as one in inches and another in centimeters. Thisscale may be inscribed on the comb body or in an indented strip ofmetal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or of any other durablematerial.

` Still another feature of the invention is that the scale or scalescarried by the comb may be directly carried by the later, or carried byan auxiliary member easily and inexpensively added to the combination.

Still another feature of the invention is that the comb iriay carry aplurality of different scales. as one for giving measurements inVcentimeters and fractions thereof, whereby quick and easy reading ofeither scale as prevised may be had, and this without any chance of afractional factor 'ofoiie kind of measurement being confused with afractional factor of the other kind of measuremet.'

Yet a further feature of the invention is that the advantages iu'stabove recited, as well as one or more others., are attained by virtue ofthe fact that some of the calibrations of each scale are directlycarried by the comb and another or other calibrations of each scale arecarried by 'the auxiliary member aforesaid. y

For further comprehension of the invention, and 'or the objects andadvantages thereof, referene'e Willlbe had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the append-'- ed claims in which thevarious novel features of thev invention are Vrriore particularly setforth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a inaterial part of thisdisclosure:

y F Y, 1 elevation of the implement of Fig; n i c v 3i idbiigt eithereriiithereofi' El. d, is@ eliiliat Sle Cal*- rymg member of Figs.- 3 and4, looking at the side of said member opposite to the side thereof seenin Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is also a View similar to Fig. l, but showing a furthermodification.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the implement of Fig. 6, looking towardeither end thereof.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is another view similar to Fig. l, but showing still a furthermodification.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation of Fig. 9, looking toward the rightin that View.

Fig. 11 is a view side elevationally showing another now favoredembodiment .of the invention.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation thereof, looking toward the right in Fig.11.

Fig. 13, fragmentarily, is a view similar to Fig.

11, but showing the parts in a different adjustment.

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1l, but looking at the side ofthe implement undermost in Fig. 11. l n

Fig. 15 is an end elevation, looking toward the right in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16, fragmentarily, is a view similar to Fig. 14, but showing theparts in a different adjustment.

The hairdressers implement, according to the first form of the presentinvention shown in Figs. l and 2, includes a comb I5 having a mainlongitudinally extending portion I6 constituting the back from which areextended the comb teeth; this comb being further shown as having a vlineof fine teeth Il and a line of coarsev teeth I8, as beingmolded forinstance from hard rubber, and as being a professional comb 7 long.

In this comb of Figs. 1 and 2, the scale of the invention is shown ascomprising a line of calibrations I 9 indented in and spaced one inchfrom one another along a side of the backing I6. The comb I5 being, asjust stated, 7" in length, there are six of these calibrations I9.Reading from left to right in Fig. 1, the calibrations I9 are marked,respectively, as also by indentations in the backing 6, 1, m2, 3,11 4) 5and 6. Said l will be noted in Fig. 2, at said 1, being also having thesame reference numeral 20 applied thereto in Fig. 1. Note that the endof the comb I5 at the left in Fig. 1, lies in a line 2| which isperpendicular to the direction of length of the scale including thecalibrations I9. Said line, in said direction, is distant one inch fromthe calibration I9 marked 1. Consequently, the scale is so carried bythe comb that its calibrations by direct readings therefrom give truelengths. y

Also, said scale is a full 7" scale, because the end of the comb I5 atthe right in Fig. 1 lies in a line 22 which is perpendicular to thedirection of length of the scale, and said line 22, in said direction,is one inchfrom the calibration I9 associated with the marking 6.

Barbers and hairdressers, like others, are mor often right handed thanleft handed. A right handed barber or hairdresser, in using comb andshears for hair cutting or trimming, would hold the comb in his lefthand and the shears in his right hand. In such case, the scalevshouldextend, in the direction of increase of lineal value of the successivecalibrations, from left to right, along the side of the comb to be helduppermost; as shown in Fig. 1.

To adapt the new combined comb and scale to ready use by a lefthandedvbarber-or hairdresser, the comb I5 desirably andvalso pursuant tothe invention, would be provided along its side opposite to its sideseen in Fig. 1 with a line of calibrations exactly corresponding to thecalibrations I9 and similarly marked, and with the marking correspondingto the marking l opposite the marking 1, the marking corresponding tothe marking "2 opposite the marking 2, the marking corresponding to themarking 3 Opposite the marking 3, and so on; in other words, the twoscales and their calibrations and markings will be such that Fig. 1 maybe taken as showing one side or the other of the comb I5. As aconsequence, the same .comb I5, when held in the right hand of a lefthanded hairdresser and so freeing his right hand for use of the shears,Wouldpresent its scale to extend, in the direction of increase of linealvalue of the successive calibrations, from right to left, if he sograsped the comb that the side thereof undermost in Fig. 1 would now bethe side thereof uppermost.

As will be understood, there may be additional and minor calibrationsbetween the calibrations I9, as to indicate half-inch or quarter-inch,oneeighth, or one-sixteenth division.

It is also to be understood that the calibrations may be pursuant to themetric system, as indicative of `centimeters and a fraction or fractionsthereof, or said calibrations may be according to any arbitrary scale oflinear measurement.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,wherein the parts to which are applied reference numerals with primesadded correspond, respectively, to the parts to which have been appliedthe same reference numerals without primes, it will be noted that inthese views, by way of example, half-inch calibrations 23 are indicatedas included in the scale having the inch calibrations I 9.

The backing I6 is longitudinally slotted as at 24, and in this slot isan auxiliary member 25, carrying on one side, as shown in Fig. 3, ascale identical with the scale of Fig. 1 except for the addition as juststated of said half-inch calibrations 23. The member 25 may be of anyselected material, as metal or a plastic, and its markings may beindented therein, engraved therein, or otherwise marked therein orthereon; and to render said markings readable the comb l5 is made oftransparent material.

The reverse side of the auxiliary member 25, as seen in Fig. 5, isprovided with a scale to indicate measurements according to the metricsystem. Here the calibrations designated 26 are spaced one centimeterone from another; and to make easy the quick reading of markings interms of centimeters, such markings, as indicated at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15are applied at points spaced a distance of three centimeters one fromanother.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, herethe parts to which are applied reference numerals with double primesadded correspond, respectively, to the parts to which have been appliedthe same reference numerals without primes. To simplify the drawing, theline or lines of teeth present are indicated merely, as having suchteeth extended between the dot and dash lines 21 and 28. -The auxiliarymember 25" is a slide having a shaped bottom rib 29 the dove-tailcross-section of which from end to end of said member is the same asthat of the groove 24, which latter is of constant cross-section fromend to end thereof, as is the grooveI 24. The calibrations I9", it willbe .s noted, are partially at a side edge of the upper main portion ofthe member 25" and partially at the top of said main portion of themember 25, and the markings 1," 2, 3, etc., representing inches, areplaced at the top of said main portion of the member 25 adjacent to theappropriate calibrations.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, whereinthe parts to which are applied reference numerals with the suix a addedcorrespond, respectively, to the parts to Awhich have been applied thesame reference numerals but without such suffix, an implement accordingto the invention is shown which incorporates a pocket comb long. Thecomb I5a is of transparent material, so that opposite sides of theauxiliary member a have scales, pursuant to the principles explained inconnection with Figs. 3 and 5 or otherwise. One of such scales can beseen in Fig. 9, this scale including the inch scale calibrations I9a andappropriately associated therewith the markings 1, 2, 3, and 4. Allalong its length and at its bottom the auxiliary member 25a has aninclined outer wall, to establish at 29a what may be called a halfdovetail, thereby to make of the member 25 a slide like the slide 25".

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 through16, a comb 30 is shown which is exactly like the comb I5a in respect tothe backing 3|, this corresponding to the backing IBS, and the groove32, this corresponding to the groove 24', and the fact that the comb, atleast at its said backing, as is desirable although not essential, oftransparent material. Here also, there is included, for being receivedretentively yet slidingly in said groove, an auxiliary member 33, thiscorresponding to the auxiliary member 25a.

The form of the invention now being described is further shown ascarrying scales calibrated one in inches and the other in centimeters,the inch calibrations being on the side of the implement seen in Figs.11 and 13 and the centimeter calibrations being on the side of theimplement seen in Figs. 14 and 16. The inch scale calibrations, 34, eachmeasuring oif a full inch, and so individually associated with themarkings 1, 2, 3, etc., are on the back 3l. The metric scalecalibrations, 35, each measuring off a full centimeter, are also on theback 3|; these having the markings 3, 6, 9, etc., associated therewith,to emphasize the identity of the calibrations respectively designating athree-centimeter measurement, a six-centimeter measurement, aninecentimeter measurement, and so on.

Note further that the end of the combi which lies at the left in Fig. 11lies in a line 36 which, perpendicular to the direction of length of thescale including the calibrations 33', is distant one inch from thecalibration marked 1. Note, too, that the opposite end of the comb 30,which comb end.v is the one lying at the left in Fig. 14, lies in a line33 which, perpendicular to the direction of length of the scaleincluding the calibrations 35, is distant one centimeter from thenearest one of the calibrations 35. Thereby, so far as full units ofmeasurement are concerned, both the scales carried by the comb are truescales in terms of the length of the comb itself, with the zero point ofeach scale at an appropriate end of the comb.

But the two scales carried by the implement are not, however, merelyfull units of measurement scales. They are, in addition, scales foradding fractions of a unit of measurement to any selected unit orplurality of full units of measurement. The auxiliary member 33 at theend portion thereof at the left in Fig. 11 carries a calibration 31which is one-half inch from the adjacent end of said member, anothercalibration 38 which is one-quarter inch from said end of said member,and another calibration 39 which is three-quarters of an inch from saidend of said member. Also, said auxiliary member 33, at the end portionthereof at the left in Fig. 14, carries a calibration 43 which isdistant one-half of a centimeter from the adjacent end of said member.

Desirably, as will now be appreciated, the auxe iliary member 33 issuiiiciently opaque so that reading of a calibration 3l, 33 or 39 willnot be accompanied by a confusingly visible reading of the calibrationlill, and vice versa.

Said member 33 is iitted in the groove 32, snugly, and yet slidably; sothat while said member may be endwisely moved along said groove, eitherto be fully housed therein as in Figs. 11 and 14, or to be partiallyprojected from the comb 3G at either end of the latter, friction may bedepended on to hold said member against accidental or casual shift fromany projected position to which it has been manually adjusted.

Said projection of the auxiliary member 33 will be to prepare theimplement for use in aid of a cutting ci a hair tress or clump to alength equal to some desired one represented by one or more full unitsof measurement plus a fractional part of one such unit as determined bythe extent of said projection of said member 33. Thus, where the scalehaving' the inch calibrations 34 is employed, then, obviously, with theside of the comb 33 seen in Fig. 11 uppermost, and with the member 33having previously been projected, for instance, to the extent indicatedin Fig. l13, the hair may be readily cut to a length of 1%, 2%" or 3%",and so on, merely by observation of the scale having the calibrations 33at the instant of application of the shears. Similarly, where the metricscale having the centimeter calibrations 35 is employed, then with theside of the comb seen in Fig. 14 uppermost, and with the member 33having previously been projected, for instance, as Fig. 16, the hair maybe readily cut to a length of 1.5 cm., 2.5 cm. or 3.5 cm., and so on,merely by observation of the scale having the calibrations 35 at theinstant a snipping operation is effected at the shears.

Due to the fact that the bottom portion of the auxiliary member or slide33, where cross-sectionally enlarged as at di, is of what may be calledhalf dove-tail form, said member is not receivable in the groove 32except in a way properly significantly to associate such calibrations asthose typified at 3l, 33 and 39 with only the scale appropriate thereto,that is, the scale including the calibrations 34, and 4consequently saidmember must also be received in the said groove in a way properlysignificantly to associate such calibrations as typified at l0 with thescale appropriate thereto, that is, the scale including the calibrations35.

Furthermore, since a professional corn-b, that is, one usedprofessionally b-y a barber or hairdresser, has a straight top edge l2for its back 3l as illustrated, and since the auxiliary member 33 may,also as shown, have a matchingly straight top, visual detection isinstantly made of an accidental and unintended projection of an end ofthe member 33 beyond an end of the comb; thereby to. insure that wheneither scale at its calibrations on the comb is to be read formeasurements during hair cutting or trimming, it will be the appropriateend of the comb, and not an end of the member 33 projected beyond a combend, which rests against the scalp.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to thepreoise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reversed to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combined comb and measuring scale, wherein the scale is calibratedin terms of units of linear measurement, said scale extended along thelength of the comb and so in a direction substantially at right anglesto the directions of length of the comb teeth, said scale having itszero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb, said linesubstantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the scale,said scale being at one side of the comb, there being another scale atthe opposite side ofthe comb, the comb at its backing being oftransparent material and along its said backing having a groove, andthere being an auxiliary member in said groove, said member carrying onone of its sides one of said scales and on its opposite side the otherof said scales, said groove laterally thereof having an undercutportion, and said auxiliary member having a cross-section matching thatof said groove, whereby said member may be endwsely inserted into thegroove then to be held therein against other than endwise removaltherefrom.

2. A combined comb and measuring scale, wherein the scale is calibratedin terms of units of linear measurement, said scale extended along thelength of the comb and so in a direction substantially at right anglesto the directions of length of the comb teeth, said scale having itszero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb, said linesubstantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the scale,said scale being at one side of the comb and including calibrations onthe comb backing each representing a terminus of a full unit ofmeasurement pursuant to said scale, there being another scale at theopposite side of the comb and including calibrations on the comb backingeach lrepresenting a terminus of a full unit of measurement pursuant tosuch other scale, said units of one of said scales being different fromsaid units of the other scale, the second-named scale also having itszero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of extension of said scale, said backinghaving a groove at the top of the comb extending longitudinally and fromend to end thereof, there being an auxiliary strip-like member slidablein said groove, said member on one side thereof being calibrated to markoff thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equal to a predeterminedfractional part of the distance between two adjoining calibrations ofthe firstnamed scale and said member on the opposite side thereof beingcalibrated to mark oilD thereon a subdivision of the length thereofequal to a predetermined fractional part of the distance between twoadjoining calibrations on the second-named scale.

3. A combined comb and measuring scale, wherein the scale is calibratedin terms of units of linear measurement, said scale extended along thelength of the comb and so in a direction substantially at right anglesto the directions of length of the comb teeth, said scale having itszero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb, said linesubstantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the scale,said scale being at one side of the comb and including calibrations onthe comb backing each representing a terminus of a full unit ofmeasurement pursuant to said scale, there being another scale at theopposite side of the comb and including calibrations on the comb backingeach representing a terminus of a full unit of measurement pursuant tosuch other scale, said units of one of said scales being different fromsaid units of the other scale, the second-named scale also having itszero point contained in a line marking one end of the comb substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of extension of said scale, said backinghaving a groove at the top of the comb extending longitudinally and fromend to end thereof, there being an auxiliary strip-like member slidablein said groove, said member on one side thereof being calibrated to markoff thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equal to a predeterminedfractional part of the distance between two adjoining calibrations ofthe first-named scale and said member on the opposite side thereof beingcalibrated to mark off thereon a subdivision of the length thereof equalto a predetermined fractional part of the distance between two adjoiningcalibrations on the secondnamed scale, said groove being of constantcrosssection from end to end of the comb with said cross-section suchthat the groove is non-symmetrically undercut, and said calibrations onthe opposite sides of said auxiliary member being so placed thereon thatsaid member may be received in said groove only in a Way properlyvisually significantly to correlate one of said calibrated sides of saidmember with the calibrations on the appropriate side of the comb backingand consequently in a way properly visually significantly to correlatethe other calibrated side of said member with the scale calibrations onthe side of the comb backing opposite to the side thereof last-named.-

CARMINE CLAPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D, 116,039 Madsen Aug. 8, 1939 D.149,393 Wheeler et al Apr. 20, 1948 1,432,834 Buck Oct. 24, 19222,507,056 Smith May 9, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Beauty Shop; June1949, page 98; left hand column. A copy of this publication is availableat the Scientific Library of the Patent Office.

